2D Character Designer for Animation-Ready Anthropomorphic Brand Mascots (Commercial IP Project)

We are building a long-term intellectual property (IP) company in the pet industry and are seeking exceptionally talented creatives to help bring our flagship characters to life. This is not a one-time illustration project. Connor & Tag are intended to become permanent commercial brand assets that will live across websites, mobile experiences, packaging, marketing materials, and future digital products. We are looking for specialists in 2D character design, animation-ready character development, and interactive digital experiences. Our two flagship characters are: * Connor – an anthropomorphic Golden Retriever with a warm, protective, loving, and welcoming personality. * Tag – an anthropomorphic dog tag that lives where it belongs: around Connor’s neck. Tag is playful, curious, expressive, and full of personality. Both characters are alive, expressive, and capable of speaking and interacting with customers. The initial customer experience begins when a visitor arrives at our website or views the mobile experience. Imagine a beautiful, soft green field with a warm and inviting doghouse. Connor is peacefully resting inside with his head slightly peeking out of the entrance. Tag rests comfortably beneath Connor’s neck, nestled between his front legs. As the customer arrives, Connor becomes aware of their presence. His eyes slowly open, he rises from his resting position, walks forward, sits before the visitor, and warmly welcomes them. Tag awakens as well, blinking its expressive eyes and revealing its playful personality. These are not simply animated objects—they are characters with emotions, behaviors, personalities, and stories. We are interested in building reusable commercial assets that can evolve with the brand for decades to come. Deliverables may include: * 2D character model sheets * Front, side, and back turnaround views * Multiple facial expressions and poses * Animation-ready layered source files * Personality and color guides * Commercial ownership rights * Assets suitable for future website, mobile application, and animation integration Future interactions may include: * Blinking and breathing animations * Walking and sitting animations * Interactive website experiences * Mobile-responsive animations * Voice integration * Customer interactions throughout the digital experience We are not looking for a traditional graphic designer creating a single illustration. We are looking for talented individuals who understand character development, intellectual property creation, and building assets that can grow into a lasting commercial brand. If your portfolio includes mascot design, animation-ready character systems, anthropomorphic characters, or commercial intellectual property projects, we would love to see your work. Please include examples of: * Character model sheets * Mascot or brand characters * Animation-ready assets * Commercial projects * Interactive or animated character work * Any experience preparing assets for websites, applications, or future animation projects